"A Homeowner's Guide to Lake-Friendly Living". - Lake George ...

A Homeowner’s Guide to Lake-Friendly Living
15 simple strategies for
sustainable lakeshores &
landscapes to protect
Lake George
Lake George Association

Recent studies have linked water quality with property values on lakes
throughout the US from Minnesota to Maine. Lakeshore properties are in
demand, and the value of these properties depends upon the quality of the
lake. People prefer clean water and will pay more to live on lakes with better
water quality. What you and your neighbors do to protect and improve the
water quality of Lake George will protect your investment in your lakeshore
property.
This guide addresses three main ways to protect the water quality of Lake
George and your investment in your lakeshore property. If we all practice
lake-friendly living, we can all enjoy the beauty and health of Lake George
for years to come.
Minimize Runoff
Runoff picks up pollutants and carries them to the Lake.
Minimize the hard surfaces that create runoff.
Minimize Runoff f
Eliminate Pollutants
Eliminate Pollutants
Eliminate pollutants at their source. Avoid using fertilizers,
household toxins, and other chemicals. Prevent soil
erosion and failing septic systems.
Capture & Infiiltrate
Capture and Infiltrate
Capture and infiltrate any pollutant-carrying runoff that
you didn’t eliminate before it reaches the Lake - with
shoreline buffers, rain barrels, and rain gardens.
To learn more about how you can help protect Lake
George, go online to www.lakegeorgeassociation.org or
call 518-668-3558.
1 www.lakegeorgeassociation.org

Working together
to protect Lake George
Lake George’s beauty has made it
a popular destination. Traditional
summer camps are giving way to
year-round homes, as more and more
people want to enjoy the beauty and
tranquility of lakeside living. The
landscape is dramatically changing as
lots are cleared and driveways paved,
and trees are removed to make way
for fertilized lawns. The cumulative
effects from such drastic changes to
the landscape mean big changes to
the health of the lake. By changing
the natural environment to a suburban
landscape, the lake ecosystem can no
longer function properly.
Leaving the natural topography and
vegetation of the forest floor around
your house protects the lake.
15 simple strategies for
sustainable lakeshores & landscapes
to protect Lake George
1. Reduce Impermeable Surfaces
2. Limit Lawn Size
3. Use Water Wisely
4. Minimize Erosion
5. Be Smart About Lawn Care
6. Use Phosphorus-Free Fertilizer
7. Maintain Your Septic System
8. Don’t Flush Your Drugs
9. Maintain Your Vehicles
10. Conserve Water
11. Reduce Household Hazardous Wastes
12. Install a Vegetative Buffer
13. Plant a Rain Garden
14. Go Native
15. Join the LGA Today!
Minimize Runoff f
Eliminate Pollutants
Capture & Infiiltrate
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Stormwater Runoff
Stormwater runoff isn’t just a problem along
roads and commercial areas. Residential
properties generate runoff as well. Stormwater
runoff from developed areas is the greatest
threat to the water quality of Lake George.
What is stormwater runoff ?
After a rain event, water that falls on natural
surfaces infiltrates into the ground and
eventually into the groundwater. Water that
falls on impermeable surfaces, such as roads
and parking lots, cannot soak into the ground,
and instead moves across these surfaces.
As impermeable surfaces increase and water
can’t soak into the ground, runoff across the
surface increases. These surfaces increase the
velocity of the runoff and also add pollution.
Oils, salt, and sediment carrying phosphorous
or other chemicals are picked up by the water
as it travels and are all deposited into the lake.
erosion pic
What are the effects
of stormwater runoff?
• Sediments can cloud
water, affecting plants,
fish, and other aquatic life.
• Sediments can form
deltas, impeding
navigation and lake
access, and providing
ideal habitat for invasive
species.
• Excess nutrients can
cause increases in algal
growth.
• Bacteria and pathogens
can make water unsafe for
drinking and swimming.
• Debris - including plastic
bags - can suffocate or
disable aquatic life; such
as ducks and turtles.
• Household hazardous
wastes; such as pesticides,
paints, or motor oil, can
poison aquatic life.
• Road salt from the winter
increases chloride levels in
the lake.
All of these effects lead
to a loss in water quality
- which can increase the
cost to treat our water to
make it safe for drinking
and hurt the economy by
Runoff carrying sediments down English Brook impacting tourism and
formed this delta. When the stream reaches the property values.
lake the water slows, and the sediment settles out
in the lake at the mouth of the stream.
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Simple Step #1
Reduce Impermeable Surfaces
Minimize Runoff f
Permeable surfaces allow water to infiltrate and soak into the ground.
Impermeable surfaces do just the opposite. When water hits this kind of
surface, instead of soaking in, it runs off. This is what creates stormwater
runoff. The larger the area of impermeable surface, the greater the volume of
stormwater runoff.
Ways to lessen your
impermeable footprint:
• Keep paved driveways as small as possible.
Use permeable surfaces for driveways and
overflow parking areas that aren’t needed on
a regular basis. While gravel driveways may
start off permeable, over time the compaction
makes them nearly as impermeable as regular
asphalt.
• Rooftops are impermeable too - so keep your
home a modest size and build up - not out - on
lakeshore lots.
• Use stone pathways or stepping stones
across your lawn instead of poured concrete or
asphalt paths.
•Try one of the newer permeable pavement
technologies. There are permeable paver
systems, asphalt, and concrete - so you can get
just about any look you want. Prices vary - and
while all options are generally more expensive
than traditional pavements, it is definitely
money well spent.
Below: Permeable pavers being installed at the
LGA office. Stop by to check them out!
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4

Simple Step #2
Limit Lawn Size
Minimize Runoff f
Look at the forest all around us. Natural
wooded areas have multiple layers of
vegetation. A canopy of tall trees, an
understory of smaller trees and shrubs,
and a groundcover of ferns and other
plants. Branches and the leaf litter from
all these plants build up on the forest
floor over time and break down into a
layer, called duff, that covers the ground.
Duff protects the soil from the impact of
rain, keeping the soil in place instead of
letting it erode away. The roots of plants
and trees in the forest also hold the duff
in place. Water soaks into the ground,
filtering pollutants and replenishing
groundwater. Studies have found that
areas of lawn can create more runoff
than similarly sized wooded areas.
The plants and leaf litter on the
forest floor lessen the impact of rain
and allow it to soak into the ground
instead of running off across the
surface.
Lawns absorb less rainfall than natural areas.
• Grading a lot to create a lawn removes the natural topography of the land.
Low spots where water would naturally collect and have time to soak in are
lost.
• Heavy machinery and equipment compact the soils during construction,
leaving no space in the soil for water to soak in.
• Without the branches and leaves of trees and shrubs to intercept the
rainfall and lessen its impact, rain hits the ground hard and runs off across
the surface.
When building a new home, think about
how you will use your lawn. Would you like
an area for children to play? Or for a pet to
exercise? Then, plan accordingly. Only
create as much lawn area as you need.
If you have a large existing lawn that you
don’t use, start making it smaller by
planting more trees and shrubs around
the edges, and eventually work
your way in.
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Simple Step #3
Use Water Wisely
Minimize Runoff f
Using water wisely around the yard helps prevent
pollution from stormwater runoff.
If you have an irrigation system:
• Water your lawn and garden in the morning
or evening when temperatures are cooler to
minimize evaporation.
• Adjust sprinklers so only your lawn is watered
and not the house, sidewalk, or street.
• Install a rain sensor on your irrigation controller so your system won’t run
when it’s raining.
• Choose shrubs and groundcovers instead of turf for
hard-to-water areas such as steep slopes and isolated
strips.
• Spread a layer of organic mulch around plants to
retain moisture and save water, time and money.
• Use drip irrigation for shrubs and trees to apply
water directly to the roots where it’s needed.
Or better yet, landscape with native plants that won’t
need irrigation once they are established. This will
save water and save you the cost of the installation
and maintenance of an irrigation system!
Barren strawberry
is a great native
groundcover that is
drought resistant.
Other ways to prevent runoff from your property:
• Install a rain barrel to collect runoff from your roof and to use for watering
your garden.
• Direct your downspouts onto your lawn or
into a rain garden, away from your driveway
and other impermeable surfaces.
• Install covers on pools and spas and check
for leaks around pumps.
• Check for leaking outdoor faucets.
• Use a broom instead of a hose to clean
driveways and sidewalks.
• Patios provide space that doesn’t ever
need to be watered. These useful “outdoor
rooms” can also add value to your property.
Just be sure to keep it permeable!
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Simple Step #4
Minimize Erosion
Eliminate Pollutants
When you are planning a construction project,
check with your local municipality and the Lake
George Park Commission to determine whether
or not you need a permit. Be sure to have an
erosion control plan in place before you begin.
Depending on the type of project, you might
need to:
• Preserve existing vegetation where possible to
prevent erosion. Avoid parking or driving heavy
machinery near trees as soil compaction can
damage their roots.
• Build a gravel access drive to limit compaction of
your site and to limit the mud that is tracked out to the street from vehicles
leaving the site.
• Properly install a silt fence or straw bales to trap sediment on the downslope
side of your lot.
• Protect soil piles with silt fences and by keeping them covered with tarps
or plastic. Locate the piles away from the road or nearby water to lessen the
chance of sediment being transported off-site.
• Replant the area as soon as possible so that there is not bare soil. Cover
lawn areas with 4-6” of topsoil and then seed and mulch with straw.
• Fence the construction area to limit activity to only the necessary area of
the site. This will help reduce erosion and unneccessay soil compaction of
the rest of your property.
• Divert runoff around disturbed areas to minimize erosion.
Sediment fences are the last line of defense
from stopping sediments from washing off your
site. They should not be relied upon as the sole
solution for erosion control and they must be
installed properly in order to be effective.
This site was seeded and mulched with straw to
cover the bare soil and the silt fence stayed in
place until the grass seed had a chance to grow
and stabilize the soil. Larger plants were also
planted to help revegetate the disturbed area. It
is important to keep erosion control measures
in place until the site has been restabilized.
Remember - just because the construction is done,
doesn’t mean it is time to pack things up just yet!
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Simple Step #5
Be Smart about Lawn Care
Eliminate Pollutants
Fertilizers, leaves, grass clippings,
animal waste, and eroded soil are all
sources of phosphorus. When they
are swept or washed into the street
or nearest storm drain, they end up
in a nearby stream or the lake. Follow
these tips for smart lawn care with
water quality in mind.
• Apply fertilizer at the recommended
rate. Fall is the best time. Don’t fertilize
before a storm. Never apply to frozen
ground. Or better yet, skip the fertilizer
all together!
• Yard waste can contribute significant amounts of phosphorus to water
ways. Keep soil, leaves, and lawn clippings out of the street, ditches, storm
drains, and streams by bagging them, composting them, or leaving them
right on the lawn as a natural fertilizer.
• Mow higher. Keep grass length to 2½ – 3 inches. It is healthier for your lawn
- and means you can mow less often!
Mow Your Way to Clean Water. Lawn care practices can have a big
impact on water quality and the environment.
• Pick up pet waste. Pet waste can contain harmful bacteria as well as
phosphorus. Flush it in the toilet or place it in the garbage.
• Build healthy soil using compost and other natural amendments. Healthy
soils are more resistant to disease and insect problems.
• Learn about Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and use pesticides
sparingly and only when really needed. Do not apply pesticides as part of a
‘routine maintenance plan’. When use is needed, be sure to follow the label.
Often the timing of the application is critical to its success. There are many
organic products available at stores - try these first - and only use chemicals
as a last resort.
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Phosphorus & Water Quality
What is Phosphorus?
Phosphorus is a natural element
and an essential nutrient for
plant growth but is found only
in small amounts in lakes and
streams. Even small increases
in phosphorus can have a
devastating impact on the
water quality of a lake or stream.
Increased phosphorus can
stimulate algae and excessive plant growth. Boating, fishing, and swimming
can become difficult and lake shore property values and tourism can also be
negatively impacted.
Green and Gross
Excess phosphorus can lead to an explosion of algal
growth in the lake. 1 lb of phosphorus can produce
up to 500 pounds of wet algae!
GREEN AND GOOEY Excess
phosphorus leads to an explosion of
More plant growth Phosphorus, and algae blooms in Less Fish
lakes.
As algae die and decay, the water is robbed of dissolved
oxygen. This can devastate fish populations if it occurs for
a long period of time or the fish have no where else to go.
Where Does Phosphorus Come From?
Phosphorus has many sources. Some exists naturally in lakes and streams
but human activities from residential and agricultural areas contribute a
significant amount of phosphorus. Stormwater runoff travels across land
and picks up phosphorus from fertilizers, eroded soil particles, septic systems
and pet waste and discharges it into nearby streams and the lake.
Urbanized areas account for only 5% of Lake George’s watershed area but
create 43% of the annual phosphorus loading to the Lake. Sediments wash
into streams and out into the lake, bringing phosphorus attached to the soil
particles. One way to help stop this transfer of phosphorus into the lake is to
stop the sources of it, such as fertilizers containing phosphorus.
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Simple Step #6
Use Phosphorus-Free Fertilizer
Eliminate Pollutants
What do I look for?
The three numbers in fertilizer bags show the N-P-K
nutrient analysis. The middle number is the phosphate
(phosphorus) content. A “zero” in the middle means it is
phosphorus-free.
Will phosphorus-free fertilizer
keep my lawn green & healthy?
Yes! Soils in most parts of New York already
have an adequate amount of phosphorus
to grow a healthy lawn. In these instances,
adding more phosphorus with fertilizer is
not needed and will not benefit your lawn.
How do I find out what my soil needs?
If you are concerned that your lawn may need phosphorus, you can
have your soil tested. Soil testing is available through your local Cornell
Cooperative Extension office for a reasonable fee.
Besides being lake-friendly - It is now the Law!
Beginning on January 1, 2012, New York State law prohibits:
• the use of phosphorus-containing lawn fertilizer unless you are establishing
a new lawn or a soil test shows that your lawn does not have enough
phosphorus,
• the application of lawn fertilizer on impervious surfaces, (Picking up
fertilizer applied or spilled onto impervious surfaces is required.)
• the application of lawn fertilizer within 20 feet of any surface water except:
where there is a vegetative buffer of at least 10 feet; or where the fertilizer is
applied by a device with a spreader guard, deflector shield or drop spreader
and is applied at least three feet from surface water,
• the application of any lawn fertilizer between December 1 and April 1.
The law also requires retailers to display phosphorus-containing fertilizers
separately from non-phosphorus fertilizers and to post an educational sign
where the phosphorus-containing fertilizers are displayed.
The law does not apply to agricultural fertilizer or fertilizer for gardens.
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Eliminate Pollutants
Septic Systems
Simple Step #7
Maintain Your Septic System
Maintaining your onsite wastewater treatment system (OWTS) - or septic
system - not only protects Lake George and nearby groundwaters from
being contaminated, but also protects your health and your investment
in your home. Typical pollutants found in household wastewater include
nitrogen, phosphorus, and disease-causing bacteria and viruses. A properly
designed, constructed, and maintained system can provide long-term,
effective treatment of household wastewater. If not properly maintained, a
failing system can cost tens of thousands of dollars to replace.
Know the signs of a
failed system:
• Pooling water or muddy soil
around the tank or drainfield
or in your basement.
• Bad smell coming from area
of tank.
• Toilet or sink backs up when
you flush or do laundry.
• Bright green grass over the
drainfield.
If you notice any of these
signs - call a professional to
have your system looked at
right away.
A typical septic system
has 4 main parts:
• a pipe from the home that carries the
wastewater into the tank;
• a tank that holds the water long enough
for the solids to settle out to the bottom
and the oil and grease to float to the surface;
• a drainfield where the water from the
tank is discharged;
• the soil where the microbes provide the
final treatment.
Alternative Systems
Due to unsuitable soils, high bedrock or groundwater, or small lot size you
may have a hard time making a traditional septic system work on your
property.
There are alternative systems now available that use new technologies
to improve treatment processes, many of which need less space to
function. Such systems use sand, peat
or plastic media instead of soil to treat
the wastewater. Many of these systems
are already being used on Lake George.
Contact our office to learn more about
these alternative systems. Photo at left is a
Puraflo system that uses peat moss as a filter.
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How to Maintain your System:
1. Regularly inspect your system and pump your tank as necessary.
It’s a good idea to have your system inspected every 2-3 years. In general,
it should be pumped every 3-5 years but this depends on how much your
system is used and its size. Your inspector can determine when it is time to
pump your tank. If you don’t pump your tank routinely, the solids in the
bottom can build up and make their way out into your leachfield, clogging it
and eventually ruining it. You might not know you have a problem until it is
too late and you need a new leachfield.
2. Don’t dispose of household hazardous wastes in sinks or toilets.
Avoid paints, chemicals, cleaners, gasoline, oil, or other toxic materials that
could kill the good bacteria in your system. Avoid things that can clog pipes
such as diapers, coffee grounds, feminine hygiene products, paper towels,
and grease and fat from cooking. Avoid frequent use of a garbage disposal.
Normal use of antibacterial products such as handsoap is fine but excessive
use might kill too many beneficial bacteria in your system and prevent it
from working properly. Septic additives are not needed.
3. Care for your drainfield. Plant only grass or groundcover with shallow
roots over or near your drainfield. Deep roots could clog and damage the
drainfield. Don’t drive or park vehicles on the drainfield either. This could
compact soil or damage the pipes. Keep roof drains, sump pump drains, and
other surface water runoff away from the drainfield to avoid flooding it.
4. Use water efficiently. Using less water means less water going through
your septic system. This helps it operate properly and reduces stress on your
system and the risk of a failure.
Avoid overloading your system with more water than it is meant to handle.
• Don’t do multiple loads of laundry all in one day - spread it out instead.
• Don’t drain a hot tub or pool into your tank or over your drainfield.
• Some water softeners or filters flush themselves daily. Make sure these
aren’t discharging into your system.
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Simple Step #8
Don’t Flush Your Drugs
Eliminate Pollutants
Until recently, consumers have been told
to flush old drugs down the toilet, or pour
them down the drain. We now know that
such actions can have many detrimental
effects. Some drugs pass largely unaltered
through wastewater treatment systems. A
nationwide study found low levels of drugs
such as antibiotics, hormones, contraceptives and steroids in 80% of the
rivers and streams tested throughout the U.S.
What should be done with unwanted drugs?
The best option is to take medications to a special local collection site
or event. (Most household hazardous waste collection events will not
accept pharmaceuticals.) Go to www.dontflushyourdrugs.net to find a
collection event in our area. The next best thing to do is to dispose of your
medications in the trash, following these steps:
• Add water and then mix ashes, dirt, cat litter, coffee grounds, or another
undesirable substance to the medication.
• Hide all medications in an outer container, such as a sealable bag, box or
plastic tub. Seal the container with strong tape.
• Dispose of drugs as close to your trash collection day as possible to avoid
accidental or intentional misuse.
• Avoid crushing pills as some medications can be harmful in powder form.
• To prevent consumption by scavenging humans, pets or wildlife, do not
conceal discarded drugs in food.
Eliminate Pollutants
Simple Step #9
Maintain Your Vehicles
Most people might link cars to air pollution, but all the fluids found in a car
can be very detrimental to water quality as well.
• Make sure your car is not leaking oil or other fluids onto your driveway or
onto the road where it can be washed into nearby waterways.
• If you change your own oil, use an oil pan to catch any drips. If the oil spills,
don’t wash it into the nearest stormdrain with the hose. Instead, clean it up
with an absorbent material such as kitty litter and then dispose of it properly.
• Wash your car on your lawn - or better yet - take it to a commercial car
wash where the wash water is captured, cleaned, recycled, and reused.
Soapy water contains phosphosus and other chemicals that can harm fish
and water quality.
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Simple Step #10
Conserve Water In Your Home
Eliminate Pollutants
Water conservation in the home helps maintain your
septic system. Here are some ways to use water more
efficiently around your home :
• Install high-efficiency showerheads. They’re inexpensive,
easy to install, and can save you up to 750 gallons a month.
• Turn off faucets while shaving or brushing your teeth.
• Compost vegetable waste instead of using the garbage disposal.
• Run the dishwasher only when full.
• Don’t use running water to thaw food.
• Make sure all faucets are completely turned off when
not in use.
• Install aerators in the faucets in your kitchen and
bathroom.
• Replace old dishwashers, toilets, and washing
machines with new, high-efficiency models. New
washing machines with the Energy Star label use
only 18 - 25 gallons of water per load (compared to
40 gallons per load for the typical machine) and save
about 7,000 gallons of water a year.
Did you Know ?
Average indoor
water use in a typical
single-family home
is almost 70 gallons
per person per day.
Simple Step #11
Reduce Household
Hazardous Wastes
Eliminate Pollutants
Household hazardous waste is any waste produced in the home, which is
flammable, toxic, corrosive, or reactive. Common examples include: gasoline,
oil, solvents, paints, paint thinners, fertilizers, pesticides, cleaners, and
batteries.
Use these products with care to avoid damaging your health. Improperly
disposed of paints and chemicals can pollute local waters.
• Use hazardous substances in the smallest amounts possible.
• Use non-toxic, biodegradable products when possible.
• Recycle products whenever possible or share with a neighbor.
• Clean paint brushes and other supplies in a sink, not outside.
• Always follow the directions on the label and store properly to avoid leaks
or spills. Store hazardous products until they can be safely disposed of at a
household hazardous waste collection event.
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Simple Step #12
Install a Vegetative Buffer
Capture & Infiiltrate
More and more people are building year-round or second homes
on Lake George. They often bring their idea of a conventional
yard with them, leading to a grass
lawn down to the lakeshore.
Traditional lawns on a lakeshore can cause:
• Excessive plant and algal growth,
• Shoreline erosion and sedimentation,
• Loss of wildlife habitat,
• An increase in nuisance animals,
• Loss of leisure time.
A naturally landscaped
yard adds value to your
property and can also
benefit Lake George’s water
quality and overall health.
What is a vegetative buffer?
A vegetative buffer, or buffer zone, is a strip of natural vegetation along the
shoreline of a lake or waterbody.
Ideally, the vegetation should cover at least 50-75% of the property’s lake
frontage.
By restoring the shoreline with native plants, you restore the ecological
functions of the lakeshore. The benefits of buffers include:
• Food and shelter for local wildlife,
• Stabilized soil and reduced erosion,
• Filtration of pollutants and sediments,
• Absorption of nutrients,
• Deterrence of nuisance species,
• Privacy from lake users,
• Save time and money in maintenance.
Got geese?
Canada geese love short, tender grass and avoid tall
grass where predators can hide. A shoreline buffer will
send the geese packing.
15 www.lakegeorgeassociation.org

Use the natural landscape
as your guide
A canopy of trees above, shrubs and
flowers in the middle, and groundcover
below provides multiple layers to intercept
the rain. If you don’t have room for trees
on your property - use large shrubs,
flowers, and groundcover to create your
layers instead. You can protect the
Lake’s water quality and still have an
amazing view at the same time!
Lucky enough to have a natural
vegetative buffer along your shoreline?
Leave it! Mother Nature knows best.
Not so lucky? That’s ok. You can
plant a new vegetative buffer along your
shoreline just as these homeowners did.
It will mature in no time, and will protect
your investment in your property for
years to come.
What should I plant?
Stop by the LGA office to pick up a list of recommended
native plants for buffers on Lake George. You can also
check out our demonstration plantings at our office or
find plant lists on our website.
Right Plant. Right Place.
Lake George is zone 4b/5a of the plant hardiness zones
- so be sure any plants you pick are meant for zone 4 or
colder to play it safe. You will also need to consider the
soil type, sunlight, drainage and slope on your site.
How do I get started?
Look around at natural areas to see what plants are
growing there. There are also many plant lists available
online or available at the LGA office. Want professional
help? We can visit your site and provide advice, help
you find a local landscaper with experience planting
buffers, or help educate your current landscaping team.
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Simple Step #13
Plant a Rain Garden
Capture & Infiiltrate
A rain garden is a vegetated depression that collects rainwater. This allows
the rain that falls on rooftops, driveways, and patios to infiltrate into the
ground instead of becoming stormwater runoff.
Rain gardens are beneficial in many ways:
• Help keep water clean by filtering stormwater runoff before it enters
local waterways.
• Help alleviate problems with flooding and drainage.
• Enhance the beauty of yards and communities.
• Provide habitat and food for wildlife like birds and butterflies.
• Reduce the need for expensive stormwater treatment structures in your
community.
Getting Started:
The first step is sizing and siting your rain garden. You want to pick a location
on your property that you can direct a downspout or other source of runoff
to. It should be at least 10 ft. from your home’s foundation and flat or gently
sloping. A typical homeowner rain garden is around 100-300 sq. ft.
and 4-8 inches deep. Just how big your rain garden should be will
depend on your soils, slope, and the size of the area that drains
to the garden.
17 www.lakegeorgeassociation.org

Time to Dig!
After you have planned out your garden size,
shape, and location, it is time to start digging.
You can use a hose, string, or spray paint to
outline the shape of your garden to help keep
you digging in the right place. As you dig, use
the soil you are removing to create the berm
around three sides of your garden to hold the
water in. The fourth side isn’t built up because
that is where the water flows in. You want the
bottom of your garden to be level. You can
‘eyeball’ it - or get out a level to be sure.
Where to Dig
Where to Put the Soil You’ve Dug
Oxeye Sunflower
Native Plants for
Rain Gardens
Tall White Beardtongue
New England Aster
White Turtlehead
Blue Flag Iris
Culver’s Root
Joe Pye Weed
Labrador Violet
Cardinal Flower
Wild Geranium
Beebalm
Great Blue Lobelia
Foamflower
Switchgrass
Planting the Garden
Since a rain garden is flooded periodically, you
need plants that can live in both wet and dry
conditions. You should also consider if your
site is sunny or shady when selecting plants.
You might want a variety of height, color, and
blooming period as well. This way your rain
garden is not only stopping stormwater runoff
but is also providing a beautiful landscape to
enjoy all summer long.
Plant a rain garden - and you’ll be
excited when it rains!
Swamp
Milkweed
These are just a few of the
plants you can use in a
rain garden.
Stop by our office and
check out the lists that we
have available for more
detailed info and to find
some plants that will work
well for your own rain
garden.
www.lakegeorgeassociation.org 18

Simple Step #14
Go Native!
Capture & Infiiltrate
What is a native plant?
Native plants are indigenous to an area at the time of European settlement.
Japanese knotweed along roadway
What is an invasive plant?
An invasive plant is a non-native
plant that grows out of control,
out-competing our native plants
for nutrients, sunlight, and space.
Invasives cause harm to the
environment, the economy, and some
can even be dangerous for our health!
Invaders for Sale
You may already know about common roadside
invaders such as Japanese knotweed, but it may
surprise you that many popular plants still sold
at garden and nursery centers are also invasive.
Here is a list of plants that you should avoid
buying. The worst actors are bolded.
Burning bush is very popular
for its red fall color - but it is
very invasive and has already
been banned in some states!
Autumn Olive Elaeagnus umbellata Goutweed Aegopodium podagraria
Black Locust Robinia pseudoacacia Indian Cup Plant Silphium perfoliatum
Border Privet Ligustrum obtusifolium Japanese Barberry Berberis thunbergii
Burning Bush Euonymus alatus
Multiflora Rose Rosa Multiflora
Callery (Bradford) Pear Pyrus calleryana Norway Maple Acer platanoides
Common Buckthorn Rhamnus cathartica Oriental Bittersweet Celastrus orbiculatus
Common Periwinkle Vinca minor Porcelainberry Ampelopsis brevipedunculata
Creeping Jenny Lysimachia nummularia Purple Loosestrife Lythrum salicaria
Crown Vetch Coronilla varia
Shrubby Honeysuckles Lonicera spp.
English Ivy Hedera helix
Wintercreeper Euonymus fortunei
Garden Loosestrife Lysimachia vulgaris Yellow Iris Iris pseudacorus
19
www.lakegeorgeassociation.org

The Benefits of Native Species
With all the benefits that native plants provide, you can feel good about
enjoying the beautiful landscape all around you.
Native plants:
• Help protect New York’s biodiversity by providing food and habitat for
birds, butterflies, and other wildlife.
• Save you time and money. Natives have evolved in our environment
over many years and are already adapted to survive here; they
are low maintenance and don’t need lots of fertilizer, pesticides, and watering.
• Help reduce stormwater runoff. The deep roots of natives absorb and
filter runoff more effectively than the short roots of many turf grasses
and other ornamental plants.
The extensive roots of native plants improve
the ability of the soil to infiltrate water and to
resist erosion. In fact, native plants often have
more biomass below the surface than above.
For example, little bluestem, a great bunch
grass for the garden, only grows 2-3’ tall, but
can have roots up to 8 feet deep.
The shallow roots of
turf grass are better
than bare soil, but
pale in comparison to
native plants. Kentucky
bluegrass is shown in the
drawing above.
So many choices...
Native plants come in just about every size, shape, and
color. You can design a native plant garden for interest
in all 4 seasons, or a theme garden based on form or
function. Here are just a few ideas to get you started.
Dogwoods
Viburnums
Bayberry
Blue Vervain
Culvers Root
Bergamot
Cardinal Flower
Wild Columbine
Fireweed
Hummingbirds
Birds
Deer Resistant
Bee Balm
Beardtongue
Trumpet Honeysuckle
Serviceberry
Chokeberry
Cutleaf coneflower
Foamflower
Sensitive Fern
Bugbane
Milkweeds
Joe Pye Weeds
Asters
Winterberry
Summersweet
Spicebush
Blue Vervain
Butterflies
New York Ironweed
Woodland sunflower
Goldenrods
Salt Tolerant
Arrowwood
Elderberry
Witch hazel
We can also help recommend natives for clay or sandy soils, shade, rain
gardens, or whatever you need - just give us a call at the office.
www.lakegeorgeassociation.org 20

Eliminate Pollutants
Simple Step #15
Join the LGA
Since its inception in 1885, the Lake George Association
has evolved to incorporate and address the changing
needs of the Lake George environment. The LGA
advocates a reasoned, balanced approach to the
management and conservation of the Lake George
watershed through education, remediation, advocacy
and broad-based community involvement. Our goal is to
ensure the long-term stability of the lake’s exceptional
water quality and the economic viability of the region.
LGA Lake Saving Project: Sediment retention basin on Hague Brook.
LGA Floating Classroom: Educational adventure to learn about Lake George.
The LGA is a membership organization. We can only accomplish our mission
to protect Lake George through the support of our members.
Help us continue protecting the Lake by becoming a
member! Call today or visit our website. Your support will
continue to be appreciated for generations to come.
518-668-3558 www.lakegeorgeassociation.org
21
Credits and References: Thanks to UW Extension and Wisconsin DNR for courtesy use of the line
drawings throughout the publication. p. 3: Illustration courtesy Stream Corridor Restoration: Principles,
Processes, and Practices, 10/98, by the Federal Interagency Stream Restoration Working Group
(FISRWG). p. 8-10:Thanks to the Onondaga Lake Partnership and CCE of Onondaga County for imagery
and language. p. 17: Rain garden photo courtesy of the Cayuga Lake Watershed Network, Rain garden
illustration courtesy of Sheri Amsel. p. 18: Rain garden illustrations from University of Wisconsin
Extension, Rain Gardens: A How-to Manual for Homeowners. p. 19: Photo credits : Japanese knotweed;
L.J. Mehrhoff, UCONN, Bugwood.org. Burning bush; J.H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org.
Illustration from UCONN Extension’s Rain Gardens in Connecticut.
www.lakegeorgeassociation.org

The Lake George Watershed
Lake George
and its watershed
A watershed is an area of land that
drains into a waterbody. It includes
all surface and groundwater.
The Lake George watershed is 233
square miles, which is about 5
times as big as the Lake’s surface.
It includes portions of the three
counties of Warren, Washington,
and Essex and nine municipalities.
Lake George holds an estimated
550 billion gallons of water.
Just over half of the water in
Lake George comes from the 141
streams that flow into the Lake.
The rest comes from precipitation
and groundwater.
Watersheds and Water Quality
The formation of Lake George, with a large, deep basin and steep, forested
slopes surrounding the Lake, created crystal clear water and a stunning
landscape. Even today, after decades of development, we enjoy some of the
cleanest and clearest water in the state and some of the most scenic vistas.
However, as development pressures continue to increase, the health of our
lake is slowly declining. As more pollutants enter the Lake, the lake’s natural
capacity to clean itself can’t keep up.
Lake George has a very long retention time, over 8 years. This means that
it takes a very long time for water, and any pollution that might be in the
water, to flush out of the lake. Changes in water quality don’t happen fast.
We are now seeing signs of decline, which tell us the problem has been
building for years. Even if we make changes now, it will take years to see
the benefits of those actions. There is no time to waste if we want future
generations to experience the Lake as we have. Lake George is a very unique
resource, one most worthy of our protection.
We all live here because we love the lake: the beauty, the tranquility, and the
memories it holds for us. But the Lake can’t protect itself. It relies on those
who love it to protect it as well.
www.lakegeorgeassociation.org 22

This brochure is meant to give you an idea of some of the
simple things you can do on your own property to help
protect the water quality of Lake George. Take a look at
the ideas inside. They are easy to do, but have a big and
lasting impact on water quality. You don’t have to do
them all - choose what works for you and your property.
www.lakegeorgeassociation.org
Lake George Association
P.O. Box 408
Lake George, NY 12845
Nonprofit Organization
U.S. Postage Paid
Permit No. 511
Glens Falls, NY